The English Department combines the traditional study of literature with current developments in rhetorical, cultural, and new media work. In addition to substantial courses in English, American, and Anglophone literatures, offerings include graphic novels, ecocriticism, Bollywood film, literacy studies, and medical discourse. English majors are not merely scholars and critics; they are producers and practitioners as well. Many students choose to complete a Focus in Creative Writing, honing their craft in small workshops, while analytical courses incorporate both traditional essays and creative or non-traditional assignments, often using digital tools.

In addition to providing an enduring humanistic education, the program fosters the analytical skills, effective writing, and intellectual adaptability essential to students' individual development, civic engagement, and personal and professional success beyond graduation. English majors complete the program skilled in the analysis and production of a variety of print, visual, and digital texts, and with the practical skills, critical consciousness, and creative insight necessary to face the pressing collective and individual challenges of our times. As a result, English graduates pursue a wide range of graduate programs and career paths, including law, publishing, business, education, communications, technology, government, philanthropy, and much more. As a complement to study in English, the Department strongly urges its students to obtain speaking and writing competence in a foreign language.

A student who successfully completes a major in English at the University of Puget Sound is prepared to

  1. Read perceptively and critically:
    1. recognize and characterize different literary and rhetorical styles
    2. apprehend the relationships between aesthetic form and content
    3. pursue connections between texts and their political, social, and cultural contexts
  2. Write with clarity and sophistication:
    1. conduct scholarly research and write original, self-directed projects that integrate multiple texts
    2. analyze texts critically across genres and media
    3. respond appropriately to the unique demands of different writing situations
  3. Speak persuasively and from a position of knowledge:
    1. approach literature from perspectives of both craft and analysis
    2. engage ethically with a diversity of perspectives
    3. present academic research orally and engage in relevant scholarly discussion

The English Department's website includes more information about the curriculum, professors' expertise and interests, careers open to English majors, and our alumnae.